Only one ticket matched all six numbers in yesterday night's drawing, said Powerball spokeswoman Kelly Cripe. The winning Powerball numbers were 5-25-26-44-66 and the Powerball number was 9.
Lottery officials in New Jersey said early today that the winning ticket was sold in Mercer County. The location will not be disclosed until certain security procedures are completed, officials said, and it's anticipated that the location will be revealed by Monday.
"Winning the Powerball jackpot is a life-changing event. Congratulations to the ticketholder(s) and to the retailer who sold it," New Jersey Lottery executive director Carole Hedinger said in a statement. "We expect that the winner or winners will take their time before claiming the prize and consult with the appropriate professionals that can assist them in navigating these unchartered waters. Certainly though, we will be anxiously awaiting the phone call."
The jackpot yesterday had climbed to nearly USD 430 million, making the prize the largest since a record USD 1.6 billion payout in January that prompted some to wait in hours-long lines outside lottery retailers. But unlike yesterday night's drawing, that jackpot was shared by three winning tickets.
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Only one winning ticket will claim yesterday night's prize, though it was not immediately known if that ticket was held by one or more people. Kripe said a winner, or co-winners, electing a one-time cash payout will receive USD 284 .1 million.
Seven tickets from yesterday night's drawing matched five numbers and claimed USD 1 million, including three in New York, two in Illinois and one apiece in California and Virginia.
Powerball is played in 44 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
The odds of winning are one in 292.2 million.